Paranoia

A cool-faced, adorable, flirtatious empress × a teary, insecure general

Year Eleven of Zhaoyang

In the second year of her reign, the Empress Xiao Hengyue takes a boat trip south. While enjoying herself on the lake, she spots a mute girl about to take her own life. Thinking that everyone in her realm is her subject, she rescues the girl.

She never expected that the person she saved on a whim would have an unusually keen sense of smell and make a promising candidate for the imperial guard. Looking into the pitiful eyes of the little beggar, she can only reluctantly take her in.

But even though her subordinates have filled the little beggar’s entire day with training, why does she still have time to come and stand guard over the empress?

Because Xu Nian’an suffered a burn to her throat as a child, she cannot speak. Abandoned when she was young, she ended up living on the streets and begging to survive.

During the Lantern Festival, someone steals the only steamed bun she has to fill her stomach. Looking at the crowds streaming past without a single person stopping for her, she loses all hope and prepares to jump into the lake. Instead, she meets the only light of her life.

Terrified that this light might vanish in an instant, she clings to it tightly, never daring to let her guard down. She suspects anyone who might harm the light, devoting herself to protecting her and becoming the shield at her side, so she can help her remain secure on the throne.

Year Twenty-One of Zhaoyang

General Jingyang returns victorious after defeating Lingyue, but the ministers wait in vain for her to appear at the victory banquet. Even the emperor is nowhere to be seen.

Meanwhile, in the bedchamber...

Xu Nian’an, the woman known as General Jingyang, is on top of Xiao Hengyue, whimpering with a hint of tears in her voice:

“Older sister, you belong to me.”

Xiao Hengyue gently strokes her forehead, helplessly amused.

“Mm. I always have.”

People say that Emperor Zhaoyang has a wolf by her side, one that wags its tail only for her and is terrifyingly fierce to everyone else.

Theme: When you see the light, hold on to it, because it belongs to you.